Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a massive blow with the news that their captain Hugo Lloris could be out of action until next year.
The news was revealed first on Monday by the manager of the France national team, Didier Deschamps, who told media that it was 'almost certain' that Lloris will not play again in 2019.
The Tottenham netminder dislocated his elbow due to an awkward fall, after he failed to gather a cross in his team's shock 3-0 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League last Saturday.
The club has since confirmed in a statement that Lloris has suffered ligament damage and "is not expected to return to training before the end of 2019."
Deschamps ruled his captain out of this month's Euro 2020 qualifiers against Iceland and Turkey and their clashes with Moldova and Albania in November.
"He has had tests. It is difficult to say how long he will be out, I am not a medical specialist," said Deschamps at a press briefing.
"As far as we (France) are concerned, he obviously will not be with us for this camp, nor the next one. Processes will be put in place for his rehabilitation. We are talking several weeks, indeed several months.
"He will not return to the pitch in 2019, that’s almost certain."
France currently lie in second place in their qualifying Group H, behind Turkey on goal difference.
Their next game is against an Icelandic side who are just three points behind them in third place but Deschamps is confident that they can cope without their number one.
"It’s hard to quantify but he is a very important player – it’s a loss for us," added the French boss.
"But we have played without him before, even if he has not had a long-term injury like this before in his career.
"Other players will take over to allow the team to continue to perform."
